Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-11-03
Can the Indian he Civilized?

To The Editor Cf TIE Register.
SIR:-SOme of our tOwnsmen, in their
Western travels, may have CHANGED 10 see
a few indians so dull aud british, 80 des-
titute Of all energy and ambition, rs to put
a damper on any hope they might have
cherished for the civilization of the race.
Such stray Indians are not usually OF the
best class. They ale often outlaws, living
on the outskirts Ofcivilization, eXiled from
their own people, and practising like the
white outlaws who form 50 large part OF
frontier populations, macy OF the vices and
few OF the virtues of civilized men.
Again, we must not make the mistake
ofexpecting too rapid progress from this
race, which, until tue last twenty-odd
years, we, as nation, never thought OF
teaching or civlliSing. When we consider
the condition OF our ADglo-SaXon ancestors
(of whom we are so apt to speak with
pride nearly two thousand years
ago in the German forests, and recollect
how slow was the ciYiiiziDg process in
their c,rse, We ought to possess the grace
OF patience with other heatheus. Mr.. J.
w. Davis, Of Boston, who, 10 company
with Prof Painter, agent of the National
Indian Rights Association, visited Indian
reservations ia California, Nevada and
Idaho, said at the Lake Mohawk confer
ence, a yearly gathering of influential
friends Of the Indians: by these visits to
the Indians in their homes, and by direct
contact with them, We are saved from that
sanguiue feeling some would gladly in
dulge as the rapidity of results in efforts
4. R,1t haN ri.rhf IN
cIpect that the Indians should instantly
adopt new ideas and habits, and grasp i'm
mediately the help extended to them,
when, as a nation, we are at the same
time placing most grieYOus hindranCes and
encouragement in their way
Aud yet, rapid progress has often re-
warded the teacher OF the Indian. About
1915, missionary work was begun among
the Indians OF South Carolina and GeOr-
gia, the CherOkees, ChOctaws and Chick
asaws. The progress of these Indians was
wonderful Never have seen people
so hungry for the bread of liie," says one
OF their teachers. In fifteen years there
were eight churches in Georgia, a Cherokee
alphabet and written language. Half the
Cherokees were able to read. The arts of
civilized life were rapidly spreading. There
were schools, courts and legislature, with
stringent laws against intemperance. At
this time three-fourth OF all the church
members in the missions Of the American
Board were among the Indians.
Then came one of the tragedies of our
century of dishOnOr" The lands OF these
civilized Christian Indians, which had been
secured To them in perpetuity by treaty
of the United States. were taken from them
and sold by lottery by the State OF Georgia,
and Is, 600 Indians, after struggling in vain
for years to obtain their rights. started on
their long years journey for their new
home in the present Indian Territory, mark
ing their way by the graves of more than
(, 0OO indians.
Did such an outrage cause them to rebel
against the Christianity and civilization
which had Ostensibly committed it? Visit
the Indian Territory to-day, and see them,
dressed ~ whites, living in their l6,0OO
houses, supporting their POO schools, II of
them boarding schools, with over 5000
children attending them, and having l3l
churches. They have written constitu-
ton, a government with executive, legisla-
tive and judicial functions, and conduct
their affairs in general after the manner Of
civilized men They support, by regular
national appropriations, an orphan asylum,
and one for blind, insane, intirm, and gen
orally unfortunate persons.
For more recent examples of progress
among the Indians, and progress directly
:OStered let us say it thankfully by our
government, take the Indian students at
government schools, notably Hamp-
ton and Carlisle. Many persons
may have been led to believe
that these students relapsed into barbar-